Social Media Use May Lead to Feelings of Isolation

April 19th, 2017

People use social media to connect with others, but research shows that frequent use among young people can actually lead to feelings of social isolation. “This is an important issue to study because mental health problems and social isolation are at epidemic levels among young adults,” says researcher Brian A. Primack, MD, PhD (Medicine and Pediatrics), assistant vice chancellor for research on health and society, University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. “We are inherently social creatures, but modern life tends to compartmentalize us instead of bringing us together. While it may seem that social media present opportunities to fill that social void, this study suggests that it may not be the solution people were hoping for.”

Read about other research being conducted by Dr. Primack at pittplusme.org